Refrigerator



April 29, 1941. Q NEW N 1 2,240,193

11 11111611111.1 01: I Filed May 19, 1939 I Fig. I.

Inventor Delbert F Newman,

1 y Hi; Attorney Patented Apr. 29', 1941- REFRIGERATOR Delbert F. Newman, Schenectady, N.}Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 274,521

12 Claims.

within the refrigerated compartment. In the usual refrigerator this result is obtained by maintaining the temperature of the surface of the evaporator considerably below 32 F., for example, approximately 20 F. While a storage atmosphere having a temperature within the range mentioned is satisfactory for the preservation of foods in general, certain types of foods such, for example, as meats and fish, may be more satisfactorily preserved inv a storage atmosphere having a, lower temperature range, as for example,

food storage compartment ii and having a cooling unit or evaporator l2 arranged in the upper between 30 F. and 34 F. Therefore, it is an the walls of the refrigerated compartments or bodies therein.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a domestic type refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with a food storage receptacle embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the shield or baflle member and shelf shown in Fig. 1; and Fig.

3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a modification of the baille or shield member illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing. I have illustrated a refrigerator ill provided with walls defining a portion of the refrigerated compartment II. In the, form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, I have provided a food storage receptacle i3 adapted to be supported in a cut-away portion of the shelf ll suitably supported below the evaporator I2 so that the receptacle i3 is adjacent the cooling unit I2. In order to impede the heat transfer from the walls defining the food compartment ii and the articles stored therein to the receptacle I3 I have provided a bailie or shield member I5 about the side and bottom walls of the lower portion l6 of the receptacle l3 Irrespective of the material from which the shield member is composed or the surfaces provided on the shield member I 5, because of the spacing between the walls of the lower portion i6 of the receptacle I3 and the walls or surface of the shield member ii, a region of restricted air circulation is provided between receptacle i3 and shield member l5 which tends to limit the amount of heat transferred to the receptacle i3 by convection currents of air. This is accounted for-by the fact that a substantial amount of the heat absorbed by the receptacle l3. when no baffie is provided is by convection. The transfer of heat by convection is reduced by the provision of a layer of relatively dead air. However, consid- .erable of the heat transfer from the articles within the refrigerator and the refrigerator walls to the receptacle I3- is by radiation. By providing the shield member IS with an outer surface having a high coeflicient of reflection of radiant heat which means therefore a low coefficient of absorption of radiant heat,' most of the radiant heat will be reflected from the surface of shield member l5 and hence prevented from reaching the receptacle l3. Some of the radiant heat will be absorbed, however, and in order to minimize the emission of this heat toward the receptacle I 3, it is desirable to provide the portions of shield member i 5 facing the receptacle i3 with a surface having a relatively low coefficient of emissivity of radiant heat. Since a surface having high heat reflecting characteristics also has low heat emission characteristics, it follows that it is desirable to provide both sides of shield member IS with the same character of surface. These characteristics are best obtained from polished surfaces and I have found polished aluminum or stainless steel shield members to be entirely satisfactory. It'will be understood, of course, that the above conditions are true only of low frequency radiant heat emitted from relatively low temperature bodies as distinguished from high frequency solar radiation. All of the bodies present in the refrigerated compartment ll including the side walls of the refrigerated compartment II, the shelves therein and articles supported on the shelves have a temperature well within the range of relatively low temperature bodies referred to and emit only low frequency radiant heat. I have found that a temperature of approximately 32 may be maintained in a food storage receptacle of the type illustrated at I3 in Fig. 1 having internal dimensions approximately 11 inches wide by 13 inches long by five inches deep, the upper surface of the cover I I of the receptacle l3 being spaced approximately 1% inches from the evaporator l2, eventhough the box air is approximately 40 F., when a shield member l5 of polished aluminum is arranged substantially coextensive with theside and bottom walls of the lower portion ii of the receptacle l3 and spaced approximately of an inch therefrom.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, I have shown in Fig. 2 the shelf I4 arranged with a suitable form of shield member l5. In the lilustrated embodiment of my invention, the shelf I4 is provided with a marginal or rim member l8 and cross bars l9. Portions 20 and 2| ofthe marginal member it are broken at the front edge of the shelf I4 and bent rearwardly for connection with a transverse bar or member 22 thereby defining an opening in the shelf I! for the accomodation of the receptacle ll. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the lower portion ii of the receptacle I3 is provided with an outwardly directed flange 23 to permit receptacle I! to slide in the opening in the shelf l4 thereby rendering the receptacle l3 convenient of access. The lower portion ii of the receptacle I3 is provided with a cover portion I! as shown.

The shield member l5, as illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises a bottom portion 2| and side portions 25. The upper edges of side portions 25 are provided with outwardly and downwardly turned flanges 26. As shown in Fig. 2, the flanges 26 are bent around the wire portions 20 and 2!, respectively, in order to securely support.the shield member l5 from the shelf ll. However. if it is desired to provide a removable shield member IS, the flanges 26 need not be turned under the wire portions 20 and 2|. Other modes of supporting the shield member I! may be utilized. For example, the shield member I5 may be removably or fixedly supported onthe walls of the compartment ll instead of from the shelf ll. Moreover, if desired, the baffle member l5 may be carried by the receptacle ii.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, there is no impediment to the radiation of heat to the receptacle l3 from the side walls of the compartment H above the shelf I or from stored articles extending above the shelf N. If it is desired to eliminate radiation from these sources, the side walls 25 of the shield member l5 may be extended the desired distance above shelf i4. Moreover, the shield'member I! may be provided with front and rear walls but it should be noted that, if a front wall is provided, access to the storage receptacle l3 will be rendered less convenient.

It is not necessary that the storage receptacle [3 be placed adjacent the evaporator or cooling unit l2. The receptacle l3 may be placed at any portion of the compartment H as some benefit will be obtained wherever the receptacle is placed so long as the shield member I5 is interposed between the receptacle l3 and articles having a higher temperature than desired in receptacle I3.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a reflection baille l5 of the same general arrangement as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the baflie is made in adjustable sections so that the amount of air circulating in contact with the sides of the storage receptacle and, therefore, the temperature, can be controlled. In the form illustrated in Fig. 3, the sides 21 and 28 of the reflection baiile l5 are pivotally carried by the wire portions 20' and 2|, respectively, of the shelf I4. However, any suitable means of adjustment may be substituted, if desired. The shelf [4' or the reflection bame l5 or both may be provided with grooves in which sides 21 and 28 areadapted to be slid, for example. In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 3, the bottom wall 24 of the reflection baflle I5 is shown supported from the shelf II by means of wire frames 29. Of course. the bottom wall 24 may also be made adjustable. Furthermore, any one or more of the sides 24', 21 or 22 may be made entirely removable, if desired.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure" by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In combination with a refrigerator providedwith walls defining a storage compartment and having a cooling unit associated therewith, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, a substantial portion of the surface of said shield member presented towards said walls and bodies therein having a relatively low coeflicient of absorption of radiant heat for im peding heat transfer from said walls of said compartment and bodies therein to said receptacle.

2. In combination with a refrigerator provided with walls defining a storage compartment and having a cooling unit associated therewith, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment adjacent said cooling unit and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, a substantial portion of the surface of said shield member presented towards said walls having a relatively low coefllcient of absorption of radiant heat for impeding heat transfer from said walls of said compartment and bodies therein to said receptacle.

3. In combination with a refrigerator provided with walls defining a storage compartment and having a cooling unit associated therewith, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment adjacent said cooling unit and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, a substantial portion of the surface of said shield member presented towards said walls having a relatively low coefllcient of absorption of radiant heat for impeding heat transfer from said walls of said compartment and bodies therein to said receptacle. and a substantial portion of the surface of said shield member presented towards said receptacle having a relatively low coefficient of emission of radiant heat for minimizing the heat transfer from said surface presented towards said receptacle to said receptacle.

4. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment and a cooling unit for effecting cooling and circulation of air in said compartment, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment adjacent said cooling unit, and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, said shield member having polished surfaces for impeding the heat n transfer from the walls-of said compartment and the bodies stored therein to said receptacle.

5. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment and a cooling unit associated therewith, a food storage receptacle in said compartshieldmember being adjustable for varying the ment adjacent said cooling unit and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, said shield member being spaced from said receptacle for providing a layer of relatively dead air between said shield member and said receptacle, a substantial portion ofthe surface of said members presented toward the walls of said compartment having a relatively low coefficient of absorption of radiant heat.

.shield member being removable for varying the 6. In combination with a refrigerator provided with walls defining a storage compartment and having a cooling unit associated therewith, a shelf in said compartment, 9. storage receptacle supported by said shelf, a shield member inter- 3o posed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, the surface of said shield member presented to, the walls of said compartment and bodies therein having a low coefficient of absorption of radiant heat for impeding the heat transfer. from the walls of said compartment and bodies therein to said receptacle.

7. In combination with a refrigerator provided with walls defining a storage compartment and having a cooling unit associated therewith, a

shelf in said compartment, a storage receptacle supported by said shelf, a shield member about a substantial portion of the side and bottom walls of said receptacle and in spaced relation I I thereto, at least one surface of said shield memher having a polished-surface for impeding the heat transfer from the walls of said compartment and bodies therein to said receptacle.

" to, the surface of said shield member facing said sorption of radiant heat for impeding heat trans- Q 9. In combination with a refrigerator provided with astorage space and a cooling unit for effecting cooling and circulation of air in said storage space, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, a portion of said amount of surface of said receptacle presented IQr contact with the circulating box air.

10. In combination with a refrigerator provided with a storage space and a cooling unit for effecting cooling and circulation of air. in

said-storage space, a food storage receptacle arfranged in said compartment and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, a portion of said amount of surface of said receptacle presented for contact with the circulating box air.

- 11. In combination with a refrigerator provided with a storage space and a cooling unit for effecting cooling and circulation of air in said storage space, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, opposite side walls of said shield memberbeing pivotally arranged for varying the amount of surface presented for contact with the circulating box air.

,12. In. combination with a refrigerator provided with a storage space and a cooling unit for effecting cooling and circulation of air in said storage space, a food storage receptacle arranged in said compartment and a shield member interposed between said receptacle and a portion of said compartment, a portion of said shield member being adjustable for varying the 'amount of surface of said receptacle presented for contact with the circulating box air, a substantial portion of the surface of said shield member presented towards said walls and bodies therein having 'arelatively low coefficient of abfer from said walls of said compartment and bodies therein to said receptacle.

nnmna'r r. 

